Remarks by H.E. Mr. Abdulla Shahid, President of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly

16 May 2022

 

H.E. Gabriela Rodríguez de Bukele, First Lady of El Salvador,

H.E. Ms. Egriselda Aracely González López, Permanent Representative of El Salvador to the United Nations,

H.E. Ms. Carolyn Schwalger, Permanent Representative of New Zealand to the United Nations,

H.E. Ms. Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations,

Mr. Christian Saunders, Assistant Secretary-General of Supply Chain Management,

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

I thank you all for being here for the inauguration of new and improved lactation rooms at the UN Headquarters.

The project to refit and expand lactation services at the United Nations was a joint collaboration between my Office, the Department of Operational Support, and the governments of both El Salvador and New Zealand.

My sincere appreciation to all involved, as well as to those who will maintain the rooms and carry this effort forward.

I would like to particularly thank the First Lady of El Salvador, H.E. Gabriela Rodríguez de Bukele, and the Prime Minister of New Zealand, H.E. Jacinda Ardern, for personally supporting this initiative and selecting tailored art pieces and furniture provided by their countries. These items will help ensure that these spaces are not only functional but welcoming for nursing parents and their children.

My dear friends,

Promoting an enabling and caring environment for nursing parents through assured access to user-friendly, dignified, and dedicated lactation rooms is essential to gender equality in the workplace.

The renovation of eight existing rooms, and the addition of an entirely new room, accessible to delegates and those in the Secretariat, as well as guests, will empower women in diplomacy; this will strengthen our resolve to achieve gender parity and gender equality at the Untied Nations and in positions of power.

I am pleased to note that the lactation rooms are fully equipped with all necessary provisions, including a baby changing station, a mini refrigerator, a microwave, ambient lighting, lounge seating, footrest, side tables, family-oriented artwork, and ambient music to create a user-friendly lactation room.

My sincere appreciation to Under Secretary-General of the Department of Operational Support, Dr. Atul Khare for responding to my request and for allocating necessary resources to enhance the infrastructure of these lactation rooms.

Special thanks to my Special Advisor on Gender Equality, Ambassador Darja, my Gender Team, and the entire Office of the President of the General Assembly for guiding me through this process.

It is my hope that all Member States, agencies, civil societies, and others visiting the UN premises will adopt such initiatives and help create gender-sensitive working environments for nursing parents.

I thank you.